Aluminium Packaging What is required for quality packaging?
Impermeable
Non-toxic
Recyclable
Light weight
Cheap to make
Hygienic
Corrosion resistance
Retaining of product flavour
Non-tainting
Thermal Conductor
Flexible
Little pollution sourced from its manufacture
Easy accessibility of product
Little potential for injury
Pros
High-level corrosion resistance.
Provides optimal protection properties offering impermeable metal barrier to light, ultra-violet rays, water vapour, oils and fats, oxygen and microorganisms.
Hygiene
Non-tainting
Retains the products flavour
Scientific backing
Light-weight – It has a density of 2.70g/cubic cm (compared to iron used in steel 7.86g/cubic cm) light, this also cuts down transport costs.
Impermeable – It uses a barrier function which keeps out air, light, liquid and microorganisms. Preserving food contents, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products using this technique.
Thermal Conductor – Transfers heat 2.4 times faster than iron. Combined with the fact that very thin sheets can be produced, means heat is lost and gained through aluminium very quickly. Ideal for cooking and a cold drink container.
Flexible - It can be rolled into extremely thin foil & can be cast, joined & still retain much of its strength.
Recyclable – Aluminium is 100% recyclable & uses only 5% of the energy used to make original product. Aluminium drinking cans are the most recycled packaging product in the world.
Potential for injury – once an aluminium can is opened, interior poses injury because ofsharpedges – risk not found in other types of food-packaging materials. The ‘British Medical Journal’ notes that injuries sustained from opening aluminium cans may need stitches, sterile dressing & antibiotics.
Pollution – Although Aluminium is recyclable, the ‘Container Recycling Institute’ claims that half of all cans end up in incinerators or landfills – resulting in the need of additional cans to be made. Aluminium smelting gives sulphur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide which can result in smog & acid rain. Can manufacturers who strip-mine bauxite ore get enough alumina to manufacture cans. Creating 1 tonne of Aluminium cans leaves 5 tons of liquid waste material, that can pollute soil and groundwater.
Environmental Conservation Issues – 1/3 of all aluminium manufacturing plants use coal to produce their product, being cans. Another 10% rely on other fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas. These fuels, though common and useful in manufacturing, are relatively scarce. Therefore, as we exhaust the earth’s amount of these we must find a new way of carrying this act out.
Accessibility – Aluminium cans preserve food for long periods of time, yet without a can opener you cannot gain access to the preserved food inside. Injury may be caused if attempts are of alternative methods fail.
What is required for quality packaging?
Scientific backing
http://aluminium.org.au/packaging
Cons –
Scientific backing
- Potential for injury – once an aluminium can is opened, interior poses injury because ofsharpedges – risk not found in other types of food-packaging materials. The ‘British Medical Journal’ notes that injuries sustained from opening aluminium cans may need stitches, sterile dressing & antibiotics.
- Pollution – Although Aluminium is recyclable, the ‘Container Recycling Institute’ claims that half of all cans end up in incinerators or landfills – resulting in the need of additional cans to be made. Aluminium smelting gives sulphur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide which can result in smog & acid rain. Can manufacturers who strip-mine bauxite ore get enough alumina to manufacture cans. Creating 1 tonne of Aluminium cans leaves 5 tons of liquid waste material, that can pollute soil and groundwater.
- Environmental Conservation Issues – 1/3 of all aluminium manufacturing plants use coal to produce their product, being cans. Another 10% rely on other fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas. These fuels, though common and useful in manufacturing, are relatively scarce. Therefore, as we exhaust the earth’s amount of these we must find a new way of carrying this act out.
- Accessibility – Aluminium cans preserve food for long periods of time, yet without a can opener you cannot gain access to the preserved food inside. Injury may be caused if attempts are of alternative methods fail.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/259503-the-disadvantages-of-aluminum-cans/Recycling Aluminium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plp7HYXCpZA